Hey all. A newbie to the form and to the Xterra but not at all new to wheeling. My other rig is a 85 yota with a custom susp., geared (5.29's) and locked with a Marlin 4.7 to 1 T-case and some 35 MT/R's. I was originally looking for a Newer 4 Runner because I like how they are built but I definately don't like their prices. Which lead me to the X. Great ride at a reasonable price which can be made to crawl. This is what got my attention. So anyway, what also lead me the a SUV is I needed something a little more road friendly and something for light wheeling trips so the whole family can enjoy the great outdoors. Trails the my yota just laughs at. Not at all saying the X can get me through some rough spots but I believe it will need some mod's to do so. This X won't be seeing the Rubicon anytime soon because that's not what I have in mind for it just yet. It's great to see that these rigs can be built up to be great wheelers. Lifts, steering kits, CRAWLER gears, etc,etc,etc.

Having it only less than a day I have to say I am very impressed with my new X. I got an 04 Silver Xterra automatic with the 4.90 gears and limited slip. It also has a sun roof, Rockford Fosgate stereo system, some BFG's on 17's. The only thing it did not come with is the tow package which sucks but easily fixable. I think I can get a hitch at U haul or some place like that. Any sugestions? These things are not cheap. The dealer even had a $4000 mark up on it which I got them to get rid of. I definately did not get the sweet deal Rondo got his X for. I did take a loss on my 00 VW VR6 GTI. I will miss the speed on that car. It will take some getting use to driving the X as it has nothing on the speed and power my GTI had. Oh well, I can get over that pretty quick because my X will get me places my GTI couldn't. Is the stock steering really that bad? How hard of wheeling do you have to be doing to do some damage? I plan on getting the Calmini steering kit in the future but need to wait for the funds to become available. Any comments/ sugestions are welcome. Thanks for reading.
Plink

Congrats on the new truck and welcome to N4W!

Welcome

You might be able to pick up a hitch at a junkyard, or else order one from somebody. I can't think of anybody who has one right off the top of my head.

As for the steering, as long as you're at stockish height then it's not such a big deal. There are times when it could get messed up though. The centerlink has this desire to twist when you're in 4wd and give it gas. It sucks, cause if you're up against a rock with a tire it tends to bend/break stuff.

I've ran my stock steering which is almost the same design for 4 years, and have replaced each componant at least once for various reasons. But it's never left me stranded.

to N4W. The steering is a good mod to get early, and lose the step bars for some sliders.

You'll like the X. Uses more gas than it should but it's about the best SUV bang for the buck out there.

True, but the newest ones are getting too big and frilly. The body design is closer to the original roots, but there's too much froo-froo in the 2005 model! Did I say it was too big now . The 2004 and olders are the best ones, with the earliest ones being the best (utilitarian wise) in my opinion. Thos Xs are very capable rigs. I've been impressed more than once on where they can go!

I agree, BUY THE CALMINI STEERING ASAP! Replacing the stock steering twice pays fr teh Calmini setup. On Xs and Frontiers, you may still break the adjusters, but those are WAY cheaper then an Idler Arm, Center link, AND adjusters (Idler Arm, Center, and Tie Rods on Hardbodies and WD21 Pathfinders).

Welcome to N4W.

Uhaul might have a hitch, they did the one on my pathfinder and it only cost 300 or so. That or make yourself a custom rear bumper with a hitch in it.

For $300 I could get a custom bumper with a reciever and a hitch hauler to haul my offroad tires with!

I agree.... get the CALMINI Steering Kit...
and Junk those crappy side bars get some real rock sliders...